redjetz

Are you allowed to spread out onto the grass?

Yes, it's a nice way to spend a day. You can come and go as you please and your space is always there.

You can order or bring in food, drinks. In mid afternoon you can call them to bring you the included fruit and cheese plate.

Expecting a strong reaction from the poor cabin stewards probably isn't fair - they are the stewards for the smokers, too, and don't want to jeaopardize their tips, I expect.

Security, I have learned, is the fastest and most efficient way to curb the issue of the inconsiderate smokers. After all, you've paid for the vacation and the balcony, so you /we should be able to use it fully!

As others have said, it happens rarely, but we have found that if you call security (don't waste your time calling guest services), they will visit the offenders promptly and that seems to be sufficient.

I think stating there is "usually" a long line for Select Dining is not accurate.....yes, at prime time -6:45 to 7:45 there may be a wait....but not other than that....

And if you make a reservation for Select dining, there is no wait at all. We always make a standing reservation for 6:30 or 7 and get the same section and waiters. Works for us!

A group of marine archaeology specialists think they have found Captain Cook's ship off the coast of Rhode Island, in a group of several ships scuttled in the late 1700s to foil the French navy's incursion into Newport Harbor. Good story, if true.

Sorry for the diversion but of at least tangential interest For the Australia connection 😀

I used our "excess" OBC last month to buy a John Hardy silver bracelet :-) - which cost $150 less than at area jewelers, which surprised me. My spouse got a Go Pro. Happy cruisers.

We received the flyer when we embarked on the Silhouette on the 20th. Was a nice surprise. I hope they continue it!

We used Luggage Valet yesterday when we debarked the Silhouette - love the service.

Also, Global Entry is now in place at Port Everglades, so we were out of the terminal in less than 10 minutes! A record 😀.

That's a great deal! How wonderful for them.

We are on the same cruise, but Celebrity offered us an upgrade from Concierge to Aqua for $200/pp. We declined (love Blu, but not for $400 for a week for two!).

So looking forward to the week aboard Silhouette :-).

If your cruise takes you to San Juan, we purchased a Tag at Bareds in Old San Juan 3 years ago at $600 less than we had priced it in the stats. We had researched reliable places to shop before we left.

As others have said, it's unknown which side of the ship will be to the port itself. But regardless, the views are great. Last summer, we got to watch the US America Cup yacht practicing from our balcony (facing away from the dock).

For me, there is just nothing like enjoying my morning coffee on the balcony, seeing the tour boats and jet ski groups moving around, or just enjoying the turquoise water while leaning over the railing. I am out there several times a day, and night, regardless of itinerary or port.

We've done the Summit to Bermuda the past two years - for us there is no option -- balcony! :-) We spent time out there while at sea and while in port.

But then, I even require a balcony to Alaska, or anywhere :-).

After 27 X trips, 2-3 annually, we're trying Oceania Riviera (1200 pax) on Dec-15, 7nt W. Carib from MIA.

 

The price for Oceanview is $1749 pp without air, $2200 with air from major hubs. Their OV is 242 ft. and has dbl-french door size window. CHOICE of 3 shore excursions, $300 OBC, Basic bev pkg. Internet free.

 

So its about double X OV price for similar tirip - HOPE THE FOOD 'REP' MEETS MY HIGH EXPECTATIONS. Many X cruiser reviews laud their O experience.

 

will do review afterwards. We tried MSC Divina Yacht Club - it was nice but not worth to us the $400 pp per day rate. Their suite same size a S-class suite. Happy Cruising

We, too, are trying out Oceania, doing your Dec. 15 as the second leg of a B2B, so 17 nights. That part of December is a bit of "off season" so the rates were lower, at least on our packaged B2B. The cost was marginally higher than a comparable 17 day trip on X that time of year. Don't have the invoice handy to look it up.

We like Celebrity, are going next month and have a nice 29-day B2B in the fall, but a bit of variety will be nice to look forward to. Like the others, we will report back.

Cheers

Before going to applying DEET repellents daily one should read the CDC report on the side effects with include skin rashes, insomnia, disorientation. It also must be applied every 3-4 hours. Last it will stain and actually "disloves may dissolve some plastics, rayon, spandex, other synthetic fabrics."

 

Does this make sense for the general public for a disease that causes symptoms similar to a mild flu in 20% of those infected? When Zika gets to the US next year are we going to slather on DEET to or there times a day?

 

Agree that DEET based insecticides are effective and they have a pungent odor.

I don't mean to sound critical, but you are are coming across as dismissive of people's real concerns. The greatest danger is to pregnant women, but also, secondarily, to those who have compromised immune and respiratory systems. For those two groups and possibly others, it makes sense to take precautions. Today the World Health Organization said it was an international emergency. Better to be safe than sorry while out and about in the infected areas.

Pretty much in agreement with this. We cruise them both, you have to take them for what they are. There are things I like a lot about both lines, but for different things.

 

Personally, and some people will think I'm crazy, but I've found most of the service to be as good and many times better on Celebrity.

 

Celebrity has a much superior bar product.

ORV, we are sailing with you on the Solstice in September - would enjoy chatting with you about Oceania as we have a B2B on Riviera in December. We are elite level on Celebrity but are very much looking forward to cruising with O. I appreciate the comparisons.

DH and I will be on Reflection for the second time on March 26. We love this ship and have enjoyed several lovely lunches in Bistro on 5 on both Reflection and Connie--especially on embarkation day. I have read that more changes may be coming soon, such as changing the menu to sushi (we're not fans) and raising the price yet again, this time to $15. Can anyone confirm this?

Are you sure the change is to Bistro or is someone confusing it with the Porch changing to seafood?

As for Bistro on 5, I liked that brief period when X was experimenting with an expanded dinner menu that included steak, chicken, pasta. On Summit, I think.

I agree with Keith - there will be complaints because there will be children who behave inappropriately who won't be managed by their parents and the staff will try to ignore it. Not all children and parents, of course, so no flames, but I think this is a mistake. Even Disney has adults-only dining and bar areas.

We have 3 cruises booked on X next year, but this latest is one more reason we also are trying out Oceania next December.

Disappointing.

Hi. I live in Boston - I would take a taxi or Uber. A bit confusing to find your way there.

Cheers.

Hi. If you do a search in the search box above you will find a couple threads with lots of info and a spreadsheet for estimating if it is worth it or not, but briefly it depends!

Coffee and juice, lemonade and ice water are available at meals on Celebrity, but sodas are extras. Non-alcohol beverage packages are available to purchase if you want a lot of soda, bottle waters, and cappuccino-type drinks.

For the little you say your spouse drinks, it doesn't sound like the alcohol packages are for you, but look into the non-alcohol ones.

Welcome to the Celebrity boards!

We canceled a cruise late last year for August 2015 on the new Viking Oceans line. We were initially very excited to be on one of the inaugural cruises of this line but ultimately canceled due to Vikings ridiculous requirement of full payment 18 months out and a lack of communication.

Turned out it was a good decision due to ship issues that disrupted that cruise and the one prior and Some customer service/communication issues that Viking was poorly prepared for. Though we may very well try the new line in future when they are better organized.

Sometimes it's best to cancel and regroup!

They are assigned, and there is a small sign with your name on it posted at the front.

On some cruises - warm weather ones - the Alcoves are booked up well before embarkation. On others, not so much. Also, if the weather turns bad, you can cancel the reservation.

I think the hours are the same for port or sea days - 9 to 9. It's nice on he evenings they have a jazz concert on the lawn.

I for one am happy that all of you aren't fans of the Alcoves - makes it more likely that I can reserve one!

The reason you don't see all 12 of them occupied constantly, or when you happen to be up there, is because we have the flexibility to come and go during the day knowing our space will always be there for us. We don't spend all 12 hours in the alcove, nor I suspect do others.

For those of us who are fans, we like that we can hang out, talk, play games, have meals, order drinks, read, etc. in a space that is far more comfortable than other outdoor spaces, shaded or not as per our preference, with fresh air.

It's like Aqua class or Blu - some posters on here are avid fans, others not so much.

Forgot to say we did that Equinox cruise in March and it was one of the best we've taken! But then, we like sea days as well as port days, and the longer the cruise the better :)

11 days is too short for us, we usually do 14 days, always surprises me how Americans seem to do 7 night holidays rather than 14. Out of interest do you receive less annual leave or just prefer more shorter ones ?

It might surprise you to learn that the U.S. Is the only major western nation that does not have mandated vacation. While much of Europe requires employers to provide 30-40 days off per year, the requirement is zero here. That said, 2-3 weeks is the norm so many people don't want to spend their vacations on one trip.

Others of us get 4 or 5 weeks, like me, but that is usually only at non-profits or large corporations. We envy those with longer paid time off!

I have to disagree a bit. With a dozen Celebrity cruises behind me and several more scheduled, we love Celebrity. But I wouldn't say there is a lot of action onboard. There is the casino, occasional lectures, the basketball court, the gym and some fitness classes, and a few games like ping pong or water volleyball, but it's not non-stop action.

If your husband needs constant stimulation and is not a kick back and relax guy, Celebrity might be a stretch.